The Kwara State Government has directed the confiscation of allegedly unwholesome cow meat at the Akerebiata abattoir market in Ilorin West Local Government Area.

According to Mrs. Funke Sokoya, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the decision was taken to safeguard public health across the state.

Mrs. Sokoya stated on Thursday that the confiscation aims to prevent the distribution and consumption of meat considered unsafe for human health.

According to the statement, signed by Oladipo Temple, Assistant Press Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sokoya emphasised, “One of the core mandates of the Ministry is to protect public health and safeguard residents from harm.”

She urged the “butchers' union and owners of the confiscated meat to cooperate with the Ministry's staff at all slaughter slabs and abattoirs across Kwara State to ensure that only safe meat is made available for public consumption.”

The Permanent Secretary also advised livestock farmers and butchers to insure their assets to minimise the risks involved in the livestock business.

Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry, Dr Abdullateef Olugbon, further advised butchers to ensure they only slaughter healthy animals for public consumption.

He assured them of the government's commitment to strengthening their capacities through training and re-training for improved productivity in the sector.

Chairman of the Cooperative Harmony Butchers Union, Alhaji Moshood Abdulquadri, stated: “that the union has consistently supported the ministry in ensuring that only safe meat and meat products are sold from the Akerebiata abattoir.”

He also appreciated the state government's “efforts to prioritise citizens' well-being and requested support for insurance policies for butchers' assets.”

Meanwhile, two weeks ago, the Kwara State Government shut down several unhygienic eateries for failing to comply with environmental sanitation standards.

The Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, expressed disappointment during inspections in Ilorin, noting that despite repeated warnings, some eateries continued to disregard environmental laws.

“We've received complaints from residents about these facilities, and our inspection revealed that they engage in unacceptable practices, including discharging untreated wastewater from their eateries to the public, which is inimical to the healthy living of residents,” she said.

She emphasised that the government's actions aim to protect residents from harmful environmental conditions, adding, “It, therefore, becomes imperative for the government to close down some of the eateries that had received abatement notices and refused to comply.”

Buge further outlined the conditions that must be met before these facilities can reopen: “In line with the environmental health laws, there are some conditions that must be met before reopening the facilities, such as effluent treatment of their pits to avoid the emission of obnoxious odours, provision of sanitary dustbins with tight-fitting covers, submission of medical certificates of fitness for the food handlers, provision of aprons for food handlers, reconstruction of defective septic tanks, and general cleaning of the environment, among others.”

The eateries and restaurants inspected are all located in the Ilorin metropolis.